The Scoop on Estrogen

There are a few kinds of estrogen - E1 (not a primary estrogen — mostly for bone and vaginal health), E2 (estradiol - the most powerful), and E3.

Estrogen gets a bad rap because of the thoughts we are get about it contributing to breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

It’s not that simple though - we need it for good fertility, strong bones and of course collagen! It also helps with some neurotransmitter production (think happy feel good serotonin and motivating dopamine) and protects against memory loss.

Low estrogen could decrease dopamine which can make us feel less motivated and crave the not-so-good things! Low serotonin can cause depression and sleep difficulties!

Common causes for low estrogen can be:

 age
 irregular cycles
 anorexia
 low cholesterol
 extreme exercise
 extreme stress
 breastfeeding
 birth control pill usage
 hypothyroidism
 and others!

What about high estrogen?

 obesity
 steroids
 environmental estrogens
 alcohol use
 ovarian cysts
 and others!

I love chatting hormones with women and being a detective to really find out what is going on and finding solutions. We also have a range of testing available to figure things out and help you be the best you can be!

Also in Hormonal Health & Fertility

Small Daily Choices, Big Impact: Why Protein + Fiber Matter More Than Ever (Especially in Spring)

As meals get lighter in the spring and summer, they often get lower in the two things that matter most for steady energy, balanced hormones, and feeling satisfied: protein and fiber. This post breaks down the simple daily targets — 30 grams of fiber and 20–30 grams of protein per meal — and the small, strategic additions that make hitting them easy.

Gut Health and Endometriosis

The estrobolome is a collection of bacteria in the gut that is focused on metabolizing estrogen. The estrobolome makes beta - glucoronidase, an enzyme which deconjugates estrogen into active forms. Dysbiosis decreases this enzyme activity so you need a healthy gut microbiome to have a healthy estrobolome.